Usability / UX Research Examination - Situated Research Usability Research Position Time remaining: Instructions: Please fill out the questions below. You have 40 minutes to complete this test. Use the timer above and be sure to press 'Submit Exam' before time runs out. This test is closed-book: please do not use the Internet, books, friends, etc. to assist you. If you do not know the answer to questions, simply state so as your response. We do not expect that you know everything - your integrity and a willingness to learn is most important to us. Thank you for taking the time to complete this test! Name: Phone Number: E-mail address: Questions: 1. Describe Nielsen's heuristics. (Remember, this test is closed-book: so you are not expected to remember all of them). Describe some of the heuristics, and how they can be applied to both website design and software / app design. 2. Do your best to define the following terms (a sentence or so for each term): aesthetics, user-experience (UX), ergonomics (human factors engineering), usability heuristics, affordance. aesthetics: user-experience (UX): ergonomics (human factors engineering): usability heuristics: customer-relationship manager (CRM): 3. How does information architecture (IA) relate to usability and website design? To the best of your ability, describe key areas such as navigation, labeling, good writing practices, and other IA design guidelines. 4. In the game World of Warcraft, the user-interface (UI), as shown in the image below, contains a row of action buttons that is bound to a row of keys on the keyboard (the bar of icons at the bottom of the screen). Players may use the mouse as well to use / customize this row of actions / buttons for their character. From a usability standpoint, please critique this UI design. 5. The designers of World of Warcraft, as shown in the above image, chose to make available the API / source code for the game's user-interface (UI). As a result, advanced players are able to program their own custom user-interfaces for the game. What are some of the usability implications? Was a wise decision for the designers to allow this? From a usability standpoint, describe the long-term benefits and / or problems associated with the addition of user-generated content to games or other software. 6. Describe the user-centered design practices you have engaged in: such as prototyping, card sorting, focus groups, or other methods (such as use-case design, scenario-based design, etc.). Which methods do you think result in the best user-experience (UX)? Please press 'Submit' before time runs out! If you press Submit and nothing happens, please check above to make sure your contact information has been filled out properly above. Alternatively, you can save your answers and email them to jobs@situatedresearch.com. Δ